My Most Used Make-up Brushes

Contrary to what you might think, I actually don't have a lot of make-up brushes. I use very few on a daily basis, so I thought i'd share with you my all-time favourites:

Foundation Brush

I use a Real Technique's Expert Face Brush as I love the way it works the foundation into my skin. It buffs product into the skin instead of painting it on and allowing it to sit on top. The brush itself is quite dense so it does distributes a lot of product but without losing control. I also use this brush to gently tap concealer under my eyes and on blemishes, blending in seamlessly with the rest of my base.

Contour Brush

I know loads of people use huge brushes, whack bronzer all over their face and end up effortlessly sun-kissed, but I need something a bit more precise so I don't end up looking like i've rolled in mud. Real Technique's Contour Brush (Taken from their Core Collection) distributes enough product to create a soft, chiselled finish. It does take a lot longer if you want to bronze all over the face, but great if you want something subtle or have a paler complexion and want to ease yourself into contouring.

Powder Brush

I've been using the Real Technique's Buffing Brush (Also from their Core Collection) for about three years now and it's still going strong today. It's great for setting my make-up with powder and I also use it to ensure everything's nicely blended together once I add my contour, blush and highlight. It doesn't pick up too much product and I just find it really easy to use!

Angled Brow Brush

If you're a fan of strong brows, an angled brush is essential. I use the MAC 266 Small Angle brush - it's really precise and the bristles retain their shape really well, even after loads of washes. It picks up just the right amount of product and distributes really evenly. It's quite a stiff brush so it's great when you want to achieve a statement brow, but soft enough to keep it natural if you keep your hand light. It can also be used to apply gel eyeliner - I find it's the only brush that gets the wing just right!

Base Shadow Brush

I don't like to fuss when it comes to eye make-up, usually two colours will do it. Therefore, a brush that applies a quick wash of colour is great for when you've got no time. I use one by EcoTools - however, as it's so old I can't seem to find it, but there's a similar one here. It's simple and nothing special if i'm completely honest. It's just massive and makes applying a base colour really quick and easy. If i'm precise enough I do use it in the crease, but it's not really designed for detailed make-up.

Fluffy Blending Brush

If it's one brush that I regret not buying when I started getting into make-up, it was this one. I cannot emphasise enough how much it transforms an eye look. It makes creating a smokey eye really easy to achieve and makes it a lot to easier to rectify mistakes. The Zoeva Luxe Soft Definer Brush has become my favourite brush out of all of these, as it makes blending out eyeshadow an absolute dream. There are bigger blending brushes out there, but i've found this suits my eye shape perfectly. I'm thinking of buying a few more of these so I don't have to be constantly washing it, and at only £6.50, it won't break the bank to treat myself to a few more! 

What are your most-used make-up brushes? Are there some that I should be using? Let me know! :)

Mini MAC Haul

Hi everyone!

Long time no speak! It's quite difficult to blog and take photos when you work full time and it's dark by the time you get home, so I end up doing all my blogging on the weekend. However, seeing as I don't live with my parents anymore and I do have a social life (barely!), sometimes my weekends are taken up with other things meaning that blogging unfortunately takes a back seat. But i'm here now, so here we go! :) 

Rob surprised me with an amazing gift for my birthday - a make-up lesson with a MAC artist at House of Fraser, Bluewater. I was so excited, but only managed to book it in for last week as we've just been so busy. So I thought i'd share what I bought!

Cool Neutrals Palette (£65)

This beautiful palette consists of 15 heavily pigmented mate, satin, lustre, frost, velvet and pearl shades. It's the counterpart to the warm neutrals palette which I really want, but i'm afraid it may just be too dark for my skin tone. I bought this because for £65 you receive eyeshadows which, if bought separately, would cost £195. It only has one colour that she used on me during the lesson, Blackberry, but for the cost I was happy to compromise on the shades. I've been wanting to expand my MAC eyeshadow collection for a while now and this palette provides endless combinations suitable for day and night. Here's a breakdown of the shades: 

Top row (L-R): Flounce ("Chalky white pink" w/ matte finish), Sweet Allure ("Soft light pink" w/ satin finish), Sun Tweaked ("Soft frosty coral" w/ frost finish), After Dusk ("Mid-tone rosy pink with pearl" w/ a pearl finish), Blackberry ("Muted burgundy-plum brown" w/ matte finish) 

Middle row: Pick Me Up ("Pale ivory" w/ matte finish), Cozy Grey ("Cool grey" w/ matte finish), Crushed Clove ("Dirty gold olive" w/ frost finish),  Deception ("Chocolate gold" w/ frost finish), Brun ("Muted blackish-brown" w/ satin finish)

Bottom row: Silver Fog ("White with silver pearl" w/ frosh finish), French Clay ("Dirty grey charcoal w/ frost finish), Cumulus ("Cream grey with silver pearl" w/ frost finish), Pearled Earth ("Deep blue-grey" w/ pearl finish), Black Pearl ("Black with silver sparkle" w/ velvet finish)

Viva Glam Miley Cyrus Lipstick (£15.50)

This is such a gorgeous hot pink. As soon as the MAC artist swatched it, I was instantly in love. It can be applied straight from the bullet for maximum intensity, or dabbed on with a lip brush or your finger for a more subtle look. As you can probably see I started trying to apply it really precisely but ended up using the wrong brush which resulted in lots of smudging, but you get the gist of the shade! I love the red detailing on the tube, alongside Miley's signature which makes it a great collectable - the money made from this product (-VAT) goes towards helping people affected by HIV/Aids, which is a definite bonus!

Matchmaster Concealer (£17)

When I asked for help with my contouring, I was recommended a cream stick as it's a lot more natural and blends into the skin effortlessly instead of simply sitting on top like a powder can do. This isn't designed to act as a bronzer, although if you choose a concealer or even a foundation two shades darker than your regular colour, it works just as well! I'm actually really impressed with this. I'm wearing the matching foundation in the above and below pictures and I find it gives a really natural finish with the ability to be really buildable.

Other products used:- YSL Touche Eclat Foundation, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, Benefit Roller Lash, YSL Touche Eclat, Benefit Coralista Blush, MAC Shy Girl Lipstick

Here I am wearing the concealer stick and the eyeshadows. I have to say the concealer stick looks disappointing on camera as it really adds a lot of definition, however I was a little nervous about using it for the first time by myself so only used a tiny bit. I'm absolutely in love with the eye combination! I used Sun Tweaked all over the lid, After Dusk in the crease, Blackberry on the outer V and under the eyes and Flounce along the brow bone and the inner corner. It's really warming and great if you want a subtle smokey eye that can be worn during the day. Altogether i'm sooo happy with these products - they're really easy to wear, apply and I believe to be amazing value for the results. When you look at the acutal problems it doesn't look like much, but for anyone who's aware of the average price of a MAC item I think you'll agree this is a bit of a splurge! I should never be let loose on a make-up counter. Ever. Thanks so much Rob and to the staff at Bluewater MAC who helped me out loads and I can't wait to start experimenting.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday everyone! :) 

My Eyebrow Routine

Defined eyebrows are my beauty staple. I tend to wear quite natural make-up, but when it comes to my brows the stronger the better. I haven't quite perfected the perfect gradient so I sometimes end up with a bit of what you may consider a 'scouse brow', but I love it anyways. Until now, i've been using Benefit's Brow Zings in Medium, which I absolutely adore, but i've recently switched it up and have been really enjoying this new combination that I thought I would show you how I fill in my brows in just a couple of steps!

Here are the products I use: 

Before

So here's how I look with a full face of make-up without my eyebrows filled in. This looks very weird to me! I never quite realised how light my brows naturally are in comparison to my hair!  They are basically non existent. Eughhh. 

Tail Definition

I start by brushing through my brows with the spoolie end of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in 'Medium Brown', to make sure I don't have any stray hairs and that they're nice and flattened for when I apply product. If I feel like my brows do need a trim, I brush them upwards with the spoolie and trim them from the top with a pair of nail scissors, but I try not to touch them in-between waxes so I don't mess with the shape!

I then begin to shape them with the Brow Wiz, starting from the middle of my brows all along to the end of the tail. I use a pencil as I find it a lot softer and easier to control. I then lightly fill in the tail to give it a bit of definition, as it's significantly thinner than the rest of the brow. I love how natural the pencil is and could easily be used to completely define my brows, but I feel like because they're quite thick I would use up a lot of product quite quickly.

Finished Shape

To further define, I then use the  MAC 266 Small Angle Brush dipped into the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in 'Chocolate'. This brush is quite new to me, and so far i'm loving it! It's the perfect width for my brows and doesn't pick up too much product. I'd read about Dipbrow online and instantly fell in love with it. Every person that used it in a tutorial had ah-mazing brows that I could not wait to replicate. The best way to use this product is to replicate individual hairs by applying with tiny brush strokes. You only need a tiny bit of product and I like to increase the pressure as I move towards the tail to create a gradient. I then take the spoolie and brush through the inner part of my brows (I have no idea what they're called!) just to ensure there's a decent amount of gradient.  

To define the shape even further - because why the hell not?! - I then clean up the edges with the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in 'Porcelain' (The concealer pictured is the Creamy Concealer Kit containing the same shade, which also features a pressed powder to set concealer), using a random EcoTools brush that is so old I don't think they sell it any more. I like it because it's really easy to manipulate so you can outline the brows precisely using the brush. I then finish with a little bit of Benefit's High Brow Glow underneath the brows to lift and highlight them. And that's it! 

For those days where I don't get the time or seriously cannot be bothered with a defined brow, I use the Benefit Gimme Brow Gel in Light/Medium. When I worked there, I used to describe it to customers as "the definition of a pencil without the pencil lines". It provides natural, light coverage that achieves that 'your brows but better' effect. So there you go, my eyebrow routine! Hope you enjoyed it :)

Have a good week guys! x

Top 5 | Red Lipsticks for Very Fair Skin

I never thought I could pull off red lipstick. I remember giving it a go once and ordering one online and when I went in to show my mum she laughed and said it looked like I was covered in blood. I know she was kidding, but since then i'd stay away from them thinking I was too pale and that i'd look stupid. It was only when I started working at Benefit, when experimenting with lip colours became my job that I got a little bit more daring. Since then, a love affair with red lipstick began. I know sometimes when it's hard to find products that suit your skin that trying to experiment can be a little scary, so I thought i'd share with you my top five red lipsticks for very fair skin.

'True Love's Kiss'  - MAC

This is one of my newer lipsticks that got given to me back in July and it's taken me a while to use it, purely because I think the packaging is so pretty I much prefer it to be sat on the shelf looking pretty! It's from MAC's Malificent collection, and is a lovely cherry red with just enough warmth to give my pale skin some needed colour! I love the texture of this product as it's super creamy and it's so pigmented you only need a little to get a full coverage lip. 

'Virgin' Glamore Lipstick - Illamasqua

This is the sheerest red out of the five, and the one you need to have the most patience with to get a good colour pay-off. It got there in the end as you can tell, but this is the red i'd most reach to if I wanted something less dramatic that I could lightly dab onto the lips for more of a stain. One negative I would say about this, and this goes for all Illamasqua lipsticks in general, is that the bullet is so pointed it makes it so difficult to apply, so I would definitely recommend applying with a lip brush or using a really strong microscopic mirror!

'Dangerous' Retro Matte Lipstick - MAC

To be honest, this almost didn't make the cut. I originally wanted to include Benefit's 'Dare Me', but I couldn't find it so this was really my back up. I do like it, but when I look back at pictures of me wearing it it is really bright! However, this is the most daring shade (So 'Dangerous' is probably quite a fitting name, ha ha!) and I do feel quite glam when I wear it. It's more of an orange red, so might not be to everyones taste, but definitely something I grab if a standard red lip just isn't enough!

'Mrs. Mia Wallace' - Urban Decay

This is probably the darkest and most highly-pigmented lipstick I own. Having tried a fair few Urban Decay lipsticks i've learnt that they are amazing for strong colour, and this is no exception. Brought out as part of their limited edition Pulp Fiction collection, this is an amazing blood red that is perfect applied on top of the matching lip liner. It's really hydrating and super glamorous; the glossy finish feels very 1920's! For a full review of this product, check out my post here.

'Ruby Woo' Matte Lipstick - MAC

When I first thought about this post, this was the first product I thought of, as it was the first red lipstick that I felt comfortable wearing. Ruby Woo is loved by many as its universally flattering and extremely long-lasting. Matte lipsticks are brilliant for their fantastic colour pay-off, which generally lasts from morning to night with very little need to touch up. When posting this image underneath 'Mrs. Mia Wallace' it may look a little flat, but I promise that this is a product that every lipstick lover needs in their arsenal.

So there you have it! I've definitely started to become more adventurous when it comes to my lipstick choices - i'm trying so hard not to buy anymore pinks or nude corals! I spent a long time feeling self-conscious about being so pale, but now i've really learnt to embrace it. I've now learnt to ignore those 'What shade looks best on your skin' charts you see on cosmetic counters and in magazines - remember, these are just my favourites and if you like it, wear it whatever the colour!

Braving Black Lipstick

I love wearing black. It's classic, simple and goes with everything. I base a lot of my outfits around the colour black, but i'm the total opposite when it comes to cosmetics. I think because I have pale skin and blue eyes I immediately go for soft colours like pale pinks and corals, and tend to shy away from brighter colours incase it makes me look even paler. However, I got the chance to try out MAC's Hautecore*, which is a matte black, and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take the plunge and try something totally out of my comfort zone.

After doing my research, i've now realised that Hautecore isn't available anymore (Although there are a few floating around on Ebay), so i'll post a few alternatives below! 

I actually kind of love this! I don't know why. I tested this out on a day where I didn't want to put on too much make-up, so everything else is quite natural which looks a little odd. Because it's such a dramatic colour I wanted to keep things quite low-key, but i'm now thinking I went a little too low-key and should have at least done my brows (as I like to have them quite dark!) instead of just running Benefit's Gimme Brow through them. As its a matte shade it needed a few coats and you can still see some fleshy tones poking through, so i'd definitely recommend investing in a lip liner of the same shade - as you can tell I didn't have one! 

This has definitely proven to me that black lipstick is actually quite wearable. I always thought it was something that only Kylie Jenner could pull off, but I think if you have pale skin it can look quite cool. I now can't wait to pull this out on a night out, or even brave it as a day look perhaps? Maybe not. Either way i'm quite proud that i'm now reaching for darker colours and embracing my inner goth! Haha. What do you think of black lipstick? Do you have a favourite that I should be trying out? Let me know! 

Alternative Matte Black Lip Colours
Barry M Lip Paint in 37
Lime Crime Black Velvet
Illamasqua Lipstick in Pristine

My Little MAC Lipstick Collection

Hey all! 

It's been a while since i've posted (again!) and the excuse remains the same. University work has got the better of me, so posts will be done when I can grab some free time. I thought i'd ease myself back in slowly by posting a little collection post. MAC lipsticks have been crowd favourites for years, with their endless finishes, shades and collections. I've only have a few, but they are something I really want to invest in this year as I really do believe they are the best lip products out there! So here is my little MAC lipstick collection so far:

(Top to bottom) Innocence, Beware!, Pervette & Plink!

Shy Girl, Creme Cup & Chatterbox

Japanese Maple & Peach Blossom

I've linked full reviews to them all underneath, apart from Peach Blossom and Shy Girl which I didn't seem to review upon purchase (I have no idea why!). As you can see I tend to gravitate towards the same colours when it comes to these lipsticks, which probably has something to do with their £15 price tag and I want to make sure I get something that I know suits me. I also tend to go for their Cremesheen collection, as I find the finish really long-lasting and there's also something really luxurious about the creamy texture. 

My favourite? It has to be Creme Cup .. It's the perfect neutral shade that seems to go with everything. It's one of the first ones I ever bought and has been used the most! 

My least favourite? Pervette. It's literally been worn once as I don't like the finish. I don't quite know what possessed me to buy a Glaze lipstick as it just looks weird and cold on my lips. There isn't much colour and I prefer something with a stronger pigment that makes my lips look more moisturised than lifeless! 

I'm now on the hunt for a really lovely plum colour along with a matte red that's suitable for pale skin tones from MAC.. any ideas? 

Speak soon! x

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MAC Japanese Maple Cremesheen Lipstick

Well, hello there!

No, I didn't die or emigrate to an exotic island, i've been completely buried until a pile of final-year university work. If you follow me on twitter you'll realise this, as every other tweet describes me wanting to bang my head against my desk trying to get things done before deadline. Anyway, i'm slowly easing myself back into blogging, mostly reviewing things that i've picked up when i've had much-needed retail therapy breaks. So, a nice an easy one - my latest addition to my MAC collection, Japanese Maple. 

Part of the super moisturising Cremesheen range, Japanese Maple is described as a 'frosted light beige' and could potentially be my nude lipstick shade. With an ever-so slight undertone of pale pink, it flatters my skin tone making a perfect pick for pale girls. It's not something I would wear during the day as I keep my eyeshadow quite low-key, but this would be an ideal contrast with a dramatic smokey eye. The creamy finish enables my lips to stay soft, and the shade has such a strong pigment that lasts ages! It's not recommended if you like keeping things natural as you're at risk of the dreaded 'concealer lips' - use this as the ideal opportunity to finally try out that daring eyeshadow you thought you couldn't pull off, this shade is sure to compliment it. Overall, i'm extremely impressed.. the hunt for the perfect nude lipstick is finally over.

You can purchase Japanese Maple at your local MAC counter or online here for £15. 

My Foundation Collection

It's been a while since i've done a collections post, so I thought there is no time like the present to write a post containing one of my favourite beauty staples - foundation. I go through lots of different phases with my skin so i've catagorised them to make it slightly easier to navigate.. enjoy!

 Natural/Low Coverage Foundations

Bourjois Paris BB Bronzing 8 In 1 Cream - Full review here. - £9.99
I've never really jumped on the BB Cream bandwagon, so I bought this through sheer curiosity. As much as it is a terrible bronzer, this has just enough coverage to cover up any unnecessary blemishes - but nothing more. I must admit I don't use this often because my skin has never been great enough to get away with it, but its ideal if you're blessed with perfect skin.

Benefit You Rebel Lite Tinted Moisturiser - £24.50
The packaging looks pretty shabby because this is the foundation I used throughout summer. I always like to switch to a tinted moisturiser in the warmer months so my skin doesn't feel so heavy. Packed with SPF 15, its perfect for those who don't like going completely bare-faced in the sun. I would say the lighter version of the two (This product is designed to adapt to your skin-tone) has a yellow tinge to it, so if you're pale skinned try not to be too liberal with the application.

Revlon Nearly Naked in 180 Shell - £8.99
This is a beautifully designed product that gives an airbrush feel with added SPF20. However, as much as I enjoy using it its not something i'd pick up when I need to be up and out in a hurry. It doesn't come with a pump, almost as if its designed to be put onto the hand and mixed with another shade. It's light in consistency and blends well, but I did find I needed to touch up around areas prone to redness.

Matte Foundations

Rimmel Stay Matte in Ivory - £5.99
This has to be the worst foundation out of the collection. It has a strange perfume smell and it makes me look orange however sparingly I apply it. It has a runny consistency, and I found it didn't provide any coverage unless I built it up, making my face shiny as opposed to matte. The shine control element is practically non-existent, but the inclusion of cotton, chamomile and cucumber did make my skin feel slightly softer.
 
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in Ivory - £7.69
This is the newest addition to my collection, as I was searching for a mattifying foundation that provided great coverage without feeling cakey. Using a mousse makes application a breeze - i'm not usually a fan of applying with my fingers but i've found its the best way with this product. It's inexpensive and I don't need to reapply throughout the day.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid with SPF15 in NC15 - £21.50
As many of you will probably already know,  MAC provide heavy coverage. I use this foundation for nights out because it provides little shine that will come from that dreaded flash photography (Although any foundation with SPF in it will provide shine to a certain extent!) . However, it is quite orange (I have the lightest shade too!) so I need to mix it with my lightest foundation to create a suitable blend.

Brightening Foundations

No 7 Instant Radiance in Calico - £12.50
This inexpensive foundation is great when my skin needs a little pick-me-up. It's still reasonably lightweight so I like to use it when i've had a late night and my skin looks tired in the morning. Overall i'm a massive fan of No7 due to their unique foundation matching service and their wide selection of foundations.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup - £25.50
What first drew me to this foundation was its added SPF25, along with its oil-free formula and hydrating benefits. Although I love the overall look of this foundation (It doesn't really cover blemishes but gives your skin a great glow!), i've found that even the lightest shade makes my skin look bright yellow! I've had to mix it with a bit of my No7 foundation, which sort of defeats the object.

Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat- £29.00
This is my dream foundation. Coming in 16 different shades, it eliminates blemishes and brightens shadowy areas. This is my second bottle of this, but i've chosen to use it more sparingly as it is the priciest product I own. My skin looks flawless when teamed with the YSL Touche Eclat Touch Highlighting Pen. It has a light consistency, allow my skin to breathe and giving just enough coverage to even out your skin tone. Love this!

Aswell as this, i've also started using my tester pot of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (£28.50) - which is certainly the most heavy coverage foundation i've used. So far I haven't found it very breathable, but a tiny amount lasts all day so is ideal for a special occasion when there isn't much time to touch-up.

I'm always on the look-out for the 'perfect' foundation, so let me know what your favourite foundation is below! :)

Everyday Makeup #1

As a beauty blogger, popping to Boots for a new product is just as common as a dash to the corner shop for a pint of milk. However, as our makeup collections rapidly accumulate, how much of it is actually used on a regular basis? I see so many blog sales consisting of blushers and eyeshadows that have been swatched once, which is why I tend to look to 'everyday makeup' posts to really see what is considered a staple.

So, today i'm going to start a series of everyday makeup posts .. showcasing my favourite looks and go-to products!

 

Base: Smashbox Photo Finish primer, Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat in 'BR10', Bourjois Paris Healthy Balance unifying powder in '52 Vanilla' (Not photographed)

Cheeks: Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Nars 'Deep Throat' blush

Eyes: Rimmel Exaggerate eyeshadow primer, 'Virgin' and 'Naked' from the Urban Decay Naked Palette, Benefit's 'They're Real!' mascara, Rimmel Khol & Contour eyeliner

Brows: 'Medium brown' from the Foxy HD Brow Kit, MAC Brow Set in 'Clear'

Lips: Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Loreal Glam Shine Reflexion lip gloss in '174 Sheer Peach'

As you can see, I like to keep things pretty natural looking (which is strange with the amount of products I use!). I'm all about groomed brows, so as long as they are filled in and arched I don't mind what goes on with the rest of my face! This is what I would usually wear to work, or in today's case going out for sushi. I usually go for a lot of highlighting and contouring, but I think 13 products is enough for a 'simple' look. 

On a more personal note, i've finally started my Easter holidays, meaning I have about 5 weeks off from university! Yes, that does sound amazing until I tell you I have 5 assignments to do. Easter break over. 

My Brow Essentials!

I've been going au naturel lately (don't ask me why) and wearing practically nothing except primer, a sweep of mascara and a tinted lip balm. However, come rain or shine I never skimp on my brows - they seem to complete my look whatever i'm wearing that day - so I thought i'd share with you my day and night brow products and the extra bits I use to keep them in the best condition possible.

MAC Brow Pencil in 'Lingering'
This is the product that I use practically on a daily basis. In my opinion a brow pencil gives a more natural finish as oppose to using an angled brush, as it allows you to simply fill your brows, following their natural shape. I've never been a great artist, so it's practically impossible for me to angle off my brows like I would do with an angled brush, but it's great for during the day when you don't want to draw attention to overally strong brows. What I find great about pencil is that it's incredible soft and easy to build, which is great if you accidently smudge it or accidently line your eyelid - just simply wipe away with your finger and start again. It's quite lengthly so it's easy to grip and basically use like a regular pencil, there's nothing worse than a sharpened down pencil eyeliner or brow pencil that's been sharpened so much it's barely useable as it's practically a stub!

(I know that isn't me, it's my little sister but I just wanted to give you the gist of what my brows look like whilst using Brow Zings!)

Brow-Zings
(Sorry about the bad condition of this, I use it all the time!!) This little box of tricks is my faithful best friend on every night out, special occasion, or on the days where I want to direct the attention away from any blemishes to my brows. Brow-Zings has been a bestselling product from beauty giants Benefit for many years, and comes with everything you need for perfectly groomed brows. A pigmented wax for shaping, a powder for setting, hard-angle and blending brushes and a mini pair of Tweezerman tweezers (Possibly the Queen of Tweezers, which are usually priced between £20-£25 alone!). Although powder is great (Sort of an in-pan equivelent to the soft brow pencil), the wax is perfect for sharply defining brows, and you can use the hard angle brush to mark the angles of your brows for even more detailed definition. However, with a wax it's easy to get carried away and go too dark, which is why I think it suits more at night when you tend to apply more makeup.

Etc:
MAC Brow Set - Use to set the brows, keep them in shape all day or even push up the hairs for a 'high fashion' feel. Full review here.
Tweezers - Although in the evenings I tend to use my mini Tweezerman tweezers, when my brows need more attention I use my full length tweezers from quirky London shop Octopus - I forgot to take a pic but they are in the shape of a woman!
Brow/Lash comb - An essential for when you need to comb down those brows before application, and also great to rid of excess product if you've accidently applied too much pencil - just run the comb through a few times a wipe off on a tissue or wipe. Sorted!
High Brow/A Highlighter shadow - To accentuate the brows, lift them and brighten your eyes.

So there you go, my essential products for perfect brows!

Review: MAC Clear Brow Set

I recently read somewhere that in order to achieve that 'fresh-faced, all-natural' look, you would need a clear brow gel, and since then i've been on the hunt to purchase one to see if this was infact true.
It's no secret that i'm an eyebrow girl, and I love anything that gives them definition and that perfect arch. However, I also love the natural look and there are times where I go out completely make-up free so I don't become reliant on my products. So when I saw that MAC did infact stock brow gel, I jumped at the chance to give it a go.

For anyone who hasn't heard of brow gel, it's a brush-on gel that holds hairs in place, adding shine in the process (Think of it as a setting powder for the brows!). MAC currently stock three different shades: Beguile (Full bodied taupe), Show Off (Rich brown) and clear. Now I wasn't aware that gels came in shades and instantly went for the clear but I am curious about how it compares to other brow products i'm a fan of.

The product comes in a tube, with a simple mascara wand for application. It doesn't really have a strong scent, but has a slight cooling element to it, making it feel refreshing on your skin.

This product is perfect if you have quite unruley brows, but it's generally great for anyone that doesn't want a single hair out of place throughout the day. I'll have to admit, for me it's not a necessity - but it's always good to have a great finish on eyebrows. The one thing I dislike is that the clear product has eventually turned a murky brown colour due to the eyebrow pencil I use to fill them in, but I suppose that is unavoidable and doesn't affect the quality of the product - it's just not as aesthetically pleasing as it is in the picture above.

I've also found this product to be quite versatile, by being able to tame flyaway hairs while in a high pony or a bun - it's great to use the wand just to gently slick back the hairs. There is also an option of going for a more high-fashion look by using the gel to comb the eyebrows upwards (if anyone is daring enough!),m as well as using it on your lashes to set your mascara. Overall this product is great for gaining a more polished look to your brows, giving them a more defined shape - but for £12.50 it won't be something i'll desperately run out and buy after i've run out. It just seems that for me personally my brows do quite well without them, and there isn't that much of a noticeable difference for me to feel the need to reach for it every day.

You can purchase MAC Clear Brow Set for £12.50 online HERE or at your local MAC counter.

**On a more personal note, voting for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards has now closed and i'm so grateful for everyone that's taken the time to vote or even just to have a look through my posts! My aim isn't to win - i'm ecstatic just to even be nominated and winning definitely isn't everything in this case! So basically... thanks!**

GIVEAWAY! A MAC lipstick of your choice!

I've said this once, and i'll say it again: I love MAC lipsticks! And as it has been a long while since i've hosted a giveaway, i've decided i'm going to give you the chance to win a MAC lipstick in the shade of your choice! I've read so many comments of people who are a bit afraid to try out my favourite brand due to the hefty pricetag, so this way one lucky winner will be able to enjoy the nations favourite brand of lipstick* completely free!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is funded completely by me, and will end on midnight 4th September. The single winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter, and entries will only be counted if submitted through Rafflecopter. Unfortunately, due to shipping costs entrants must live in the United Kingdom (Sorry!). The lucky winner will have 72 hours to claim their price before another winner is chosen.

Good luck - it's choosing a shade that's the tricky part!

Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!

Review: MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in 'Chatterbox'

Pink is my go-to colour. As hard as I try to move away from it, I always tend to gravitate back to a trusty old posey pink. Along with coral, pink is a shade perfectly suited for pale skintones which tends to be my reasoning behind always grabbing the same shades. However, I wanted to find something that was a little bit more 'out-there' - generally brighter and a lot more fun for when I go out in the evenings, which brings me to my latest addition to my MAC lipstick collection - 'Chatterbox'.

Discribed as a 'Bright red-pink', I chose this because it's probably the closest to a red that my skintone and face shape will allow (As hard as I try, I can't seem to find a red lipstick that looks good on me?!). It's part of the Amplified creme range at MAC, which are generally a lot brighter and much more dramatic than the Cremesheen and Lustre finishes that I tend to purchase. I was so excited to try this shade out, i've been trying to experiment clothing and hair-wise recently, so I thought "why not?"

 

(Wanted to slyly photograph my new nails too, you like?) 

First of all, let me apologise for only managing to get a flash version of the product on my lips, but for some reason my camera wouldn't allow it this morning without making the whole image blurry! This shade is awesome! It's so unlike me to get something this bright, and I love it. It's not really my cup of tea for work, but it's definitely a shade that i'll wear on a night out. The moisturising tube means the product slicks on with ease, and you will get a lot of usage out of the tube, which in my opinion justifies the £14 price tag. It's not very red though, as the product described - but it's certainly a hot pink, perfect for anyone that wants a lip colour that will make them stand out in a crowd.

You can purchase Chatterbox or any of the other MAC Amplified Creme lipsticks for £14 from your local MAC counter or on their website here.

Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!